First Journey 5k

EVENT LOCATION: Wekiva Parkway Section 2B, located in the northwest quadrant of Plymouth Sorrento Road and Haas-Ondich Road in Apopka.(See map with blue inset for event area).

EVENT ACCESS: Access to the 5K race will be via the temporary SR 429 ramp at County 435, just north of Haas Road.(See map inset in green for race access.) Access for the other event activities will be via Kelly Park Road and the SR 429 ramp on the northwest side. (See map with red inset for the other event access via Kelly Park Road.) The race start and finish and overall event venue is shown in blue on the map. 

EVENT ACTIVITIES: The grand opening will include a 5K race, a one-mile Family Fun Run/Walk, community group exhibits, music, distinguished speakers and a ribbon cutting event. The Wekiva Parkway includes several wildlife protections, so environmental agencies and wildlife conservation groups also will participate in the event. Since the Wekiva Parkway features innovative technology including all electronic tolling, exhibits also will be on hand for some of the latest vehicle technology.

**PACKET PICK-UP ** Packet Pick-up will be available at Central Florida Expressway Authority Parking Lot located at: 4974 ORL Tower Road Orlando, FL 32807 - Wednesday, March 28: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Thursday, March 29: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Packet Pickup is available on race day!

5K RACE DETAILS: Registration is now open for the race by completing the form and making payment on this site. 5K Run:                             $25.00

Family Fun Run/Walk:       $10.00

(Registration Fee After March 29 at 12 p.m.)

5K Race:                             $30.00

Family Fun Run/Walk:         $15.00 Additional information will be provided once available about Pre-event Registration Packet Pick-up dates and times.  Packets also will be available at the event on race day.

WAIVER REQUIRED: All race participants must complete the liability waiver as part of registering for the event.

5K RACE COURSE: A race route map will be provided soon. The route will include running over a towering 60-foot-high bridge through the multi-level interchange.

AWARDS & MEDALS: All race participants will receive a commemorative medal. Awards will be provided for the top 3 finishers in the following male & female age groups 9 & under, 10-14,15-19,20-24,25-29,30-34,35-39,40-44,55-49,50-54,55-59,60-64,65-69,70-74,75-79,80+

CHARITY FUNDRAISER: Race proceeds will be donated to an as-yet-to-be-determined wildlife conservation or rescue organization, in keeping with the project’s environmental protections.

**MORE INFO ON THE WEKIVA PARKWAY: **The Wekiva Parkway is being developed jointly by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). CFX is finishing the last of five parkway sections, totaling 10 miles and more than $270 million in construction costs. The entire parkway through Lake, Orange and Seminole counties is anticipated to be open to traffic by early 2022.

This estimated $1.6 billion project includes $500 million of non-toll road improvements including: 

Widening seven (7) miles of SR 46 in Lake and Seminole Counties Rebuilding the US 441/SR 46 interchange in Mount Dora Shifting the CR 46A connection to SR 46 out of the Seminole State Forest so wildlife can move more safely between habitats

Providing non-tolled, one-lane service roads parallel to the parkway in part of east Lake and Seminole Counties  Building a 10-mile, multi-use trail along portions of the parkway in east Lake and Seminole counties Environmentalists refer to the Wekiva Parkway as a good example of transportation planning through environmentally sensitive areas. Authorized by the 2004 Wekiva Parkway & Protection Act, parkway development has included conserving more than 3,400 acres of land. The parkway will include three wildlife bridges and a new, high-profile bridge over the Wekiva River, all contributing to safer and enhanced wildlife passage between the Seminole State Forest, Rock Springs Run Reserve and the Lower Wekiva River Preserve. The parkway will be largely elevated to reduce accidents between vehicles and wildlife.